^ ttiforiaL Y Poor Old United States . The sympathizing and patriotic citizen , who may not take the trouble to investigate financial affairs , but takes the monthings of the Shylocks from Secretary MoOnllooh down to the pawn broker , as gospel troth , must often feel alarmed at the financial prospeots . These finance doctors are fertile of evil prophecy . They virtually give as to understand that the government will soon have no money but silver , and that that will be good for nothing . Gold , we are told , is being driven ont by the silver dollar , and the deuce will soon be to pay , unless the coinage of silver is stopped and the silver already coined be thrown into the sea or somewhere else . Now if it is shown that all this is false and nonsense , the question arises , why are snch statements made ? The answer must be that the Secretary of the Treasury is in league with the conscienceless gang of money dealers who make money an article of commerce , and who wish to corner the ...

^ tvktv off % Tj ^ ccl —Thirteen miners lost their lives by an exp losion in Nova Scotia . —It was voted by the State Board of Agriculture at Springfield to hold the next State Fair in Chicago . —Fire destroyed the entire west side of the Publio Square at Princeton , Mo . The loss is estimated at $ 75 , 000 . —There were 273 failures in the United States last week—a decrease of fifty-seven ns compared with the previous week . —Advices from Lake Simon , Que ., report that a camp situated six miles from that p lnoe was burned . Four men were burned to death . —The House has passed the Senate bUl ( with amendment ) providing for the erection of a publio building at Detroit at a limited cost of $ 900 , 000 . —Long Island Sound threatens to freeze over . Ice-floes fringe the shores three miles ont from land , and even the great steamers have difficulty in making their way . r —The severe snow storm that has prevailed over the whole Northwest has- caused more delay and trouble to the mail...

IJltterarg Writtenfor The Western Rural . The Winter Might Wind . 1 JX MBS . MINA B . 81 EAB . The north wind roams through the branches bare , And sighs to find not a leaf left there , And chants a requiem sad and low O er the tomb of the flowers , dead long ago ; Jiut in anger flings to the earths brown breast , The absent song-bird s deserted nest ; And spurns in scorn through the brooks dry bed Tho fallen leaves that are soar aud dead . Tho listener trembles with childish fright As ho hears him call through the gloom of night . Jjike the shriek of a sea-gull , tempest tossed . Or the hopeless wail of a soul that is lost Home to the ear ou the shuddering air , From the desolate regions of dark despair . For gloomy thoughts tis the night of nights When fancy soars in wildest flights . And tho restless imps of darkness and doom Come forth to revel in storm and gloom . God help tlie traveler far from home . Compelled through darkness and storm to roam , Or who for shelter shall seek...

pMU Short-Horns as Milkers . We are asked by a correspondent if there „ re any Short-horns that are good for anything for mi ** YeB * Some of them are m 0 Bt exoel-ent milkers . The grades furnish some of the best stook that is to be found in some of onr largest dairies . But the Short-horn is not a dairy cow . It is not olaimed that she is . She is bred for another purpose , and that purpose is inimical to the best dairy qualities . Our beef breeds have been bred for beef , and the milking characteristics have not only been made aeoondary , but they have really had no attention paid to them at all . We cannot have n first class milking animal , like the Holstein , and a first class beef animal , like the Short-horn or Hereford , in one . If we desire both beef and milk in one cow , and have her more than of ordinary character iu both respects , we must give np . some milk and some beef . It is perfectly natural for a cow to . g ive milk . It is much more mitural for her to give mil...

Ttfim j ^ fodt The Recent Ensilage Congress . EDITOBS RUBAI , AND STOCKMAN : — The American Ensilage Congress held its third annual session at 5 fi Bookman Street , New York , convening on January 21 st and continuing two days . There was a mnoh larger attendance than at previous sessions , showing that the ensilage system has gained in fayor , especially among the stockmen of the East , since its first introduction into this country . The presence of practical men from various parts of the Middle and New England States , gave evidence that the matter of ensilage was coming to be regarded as one . of vital importance , while the general desire manifested to obtain definite information as to the management of silos , the best material to fill the same , and how to feed the product most profitably , proved conclusively that many progressives were among the delegates and anxious to learn about any improvements npon M . Goffarts great discovery . Among other prominent gentlemen who part...